MetaFilter posts tagged with Birmingham

The Wrekin Ruby

Electric Dragon — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:21:12 -0800

When Wrekin Construction went into administration last week, it blamed the Royal Bank of Scotland for demanding repayment of an overdraft. However, the 2007 accounts show that among the assets of the company is a ruby it called the "Gem of Tanzania". Wrekin had bought the stone off one of its shareholders for £11m worth of shares - more than four times the record for a single ruby at auction. The valuation ostensibly came from an Italian gemological institute. It denies all knowledge of the stone:

Note 13 of Wrekin’s 2007 accounts states: “The fair value of the ruby gemstone was determined by a professional valuer at the Instituto Gemmologico Italiano (sic) based in Valenza, Italy, on 31 August 2007.” Loridana Prosperi, a gemologist at the head office of the Istituto Gemmologico Italiano in Milan, said: “That is impossible, because we were on holiday on August 31 2007.” She said IGI never assesses the price of gemstones, only the quality – and the Valenza office does not even do that.

Truly Brutal

chuckdarwin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:17:49 -0800

The Birmingham Central Library, one of the largest and most important public libraries in Europe, has often been vilified as one of the ugliest buildings in Britain. A prime example of Brutalism, English Heritage has (controversially) recommended that the structure should be listed. Others want it to go the way of Portsmouth's hated Tricorn Centre. I was glad to find out that this Oxonian monstrosity is due to be demolished. Trust me, it smells far worse than it looks.

And I thought I was busy

parmanparman — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:04:48 -0800

She works six days a week and has sold her husband - twice.

Brum's Folly?

chuckdarwin — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:47:35 -0800

Developers plan to build The VTP 200 - a proposed "landmark tower / vertical theme park" - in Birmingham's city centre.

Spoider Bloke

MrMustard — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:32:09 -0800

Birmingham’s iconic, 200 foot high Selfridge’s building has been scaled by an anonymous teenage equivalent of Alain Robert (previously). A friend filmed the feat and posted it to YouTube, although local (text) news (YouTube) claims it has now been removed. But has it?

It's not fair - life was good before

madamjujujive — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:28:58 -0800

If you overdosed on being thankful yesterday, the Birmingham Complaints Choir or the Helsinki Complaints Choir might be an antidote. (YouTube alert) More on complaints choirs.

Cast down from Mt. Olympus, to live in Birmingham

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 08:45:15 -0800

He is the world's tallest cast iron statue. He has a long and sometimes troubled history. His enormous bare buttocks have offended local prudes and religious leaders for decades. He was dis ass embled in 1999 for refurbishing, but now once again, from atop his lofty mountain perch, this pagan colossus reigns over Birmingham, Alabama, the virtual buckle of the Bible Belt. Behold, Vul can!

Who loves ya Brummie?

Navek Rednam — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 13:55:05 -0800

Telly looks at Birmingham [Realplayer] One of TV's most famous detectives and Hollywood actors, Telly Savalas, takes a look at England's second city - part of the Baim Collection

Evacuations in response to "credible intelligence" received

tomcosgrave — Sat, 09 Jul 2005 15:07:32 -0800

Police evacuate Birmingham centre
West Midlands police have evacuated the second largest city in England tonight as a precautionary measure. Sky News are reporting that a series of controlled explosions (I heard on Sky News TV that one of these was on a bus, but this may be innacurate) have been carried out in the Broad Street area. I hope that any and all UK MeFi-ites in Birmingham are keeping sane through out all this.

Sikh play dropped

dprs75 — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 03:49:42 -0800

Behzti (Dishonour) a play by sikh author Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti has been dropped because of violent protests from members of the birmingham sikh community.

Catholic archbishop feels that violation of the sacred place of the Sikh religion demeans the sacred places of every religion.

As an aside at least enoch was wrong.

Once again folks - in the right corner it's religion , erm.. running round in circles like a scared fool its freedom of expression.

Baywatch

Fat Buddha — Mon, 05 May 2003 08:24:34 -0800

Baywatch , as practiced in Birmingham U.K. A little spoof of Baywatch, filmed around one of Brums landmark pieces of public art. It made me laugh anyway. (windows media player required)

msacheson — Fri, 31 May 2002 10:17:02 -0800

This is the story of what happens when a naïve 15-year-old prodigy collides with an upward-reaching football program, some of whose players feel like they own the campus. Brittany Benefield started college at age 15 with the dream of finishing law school before she turned 21. Didn't quite work out that way, and hers is an amazing story. Take the time to read this, and think about it. Would you fault her parents, for letting her get into something she wasn't ready for; the university, for letting this get out of control; the football program, for running roughshod over the school; or Brittany, for her own decisions?

Ty Webb — Thu, 23 May 2002 13:36:49 -0800

Ex-Klansman Bobby Frank Cherry sentenced to life in prison for the Sept. 15, 1963, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Few things bring a smile to my face like a hateful old racist terrorist getting sent off to spend the rest of his days as a prison wife.

BitterOldPunk — Thu, 16 May 2002 07:44:54 -0800

Southern Gothic gets downright surreal. I'm not sure what the point of this site is, or if there is one, but as a Birminghamster, I applaud local attempts to mix fact and fiction with the brio usually reserved for articles about us in the national media.

mathowie — Tue, 01 May 2001 16:10:01 -0800

Ex-Klansman Thomas Blanton Jr. has been convicted of first degree murder, for the bombing and killing of four young girls in a Birmingham, Alabama church, back in 1963. If anyone here has seen Four Little Girls, you'll probably agree: it's about time.